Ghislain Picard wins 11th mandate, 30th year as AFNQL Chief, looks ahead to political year in Quebec
One of Quebec's most longstanding leaders was re-elected Tuesday, saying he plans to charge forward and take advantage of the political window created by this year's upcoming provincial election.
Ghislain Picard won his 11th mandate as Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, earning 74 per cent of the vote.
This year will mark his 30th heading up the organization, as he was first elected in 1992.
Challenging him in this election was Serge Simon, who served as Chief of Kanesatake for 10 years.
In a statement after the results, Picard thanked Simon for putting himself forward and participating in the democratic exercise.
He said he's full of energy for the coming mandate, including building on environmental achievements. The assembly quoted from an interview he gave during the campaign, saying he wants to leverage the election to gain more for Quebec and Labrador First Nations.
"Considering the coming provincial election, we must seize the opportunities to influence every aspect of the political agenda," he said in the interview.
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti was among those to congratulate Picard on Tuesday, posting a picture of them together.
Picard is Innu and originally from the communit of Pessamit. He spent his earlier career working in communications, helping found a community radio station, and managing the Quebec network of Native Friendship Centres.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.